The Friends of St Mary’s
the Friends of St Mary’s
Speaker Series
January 21st 2025 at 7pm:
Wales, the Saints and the Climate Emergency with Tom Bullough
Tom will be talking about Sarn Helen, his book about a walk through Wales, our distant past and imminent future. Given the climate and nature emergency, what might we learn from the Age of Saints to help us navigate the next few decades?
Tom Bullough is the author of four novels and, most recently, Sarn Helen: a Journey Through Wales, Past, Present and Future, which won the 2024 Wales Book of the Year and the 2023 Waterstones Welsh Book of the Year. His first feature film, Mr Burton, co-written with Josh Hyams, tells the story of the early life of the actor Richard Burton and will be released in February 2025. At present, Tom is the Story Fellow in Hay Castle, where he is working on an audio-visual project about the River Wye. He grew up on a hill farm in Radnorshire and now lives near Brecon with his two children, a collie and a goldfish.
Tickets £10 on the door.
Future talks in 2025:
Tuesday 18th February, 7pm:
Rodney Ashwood: “The History of The Victoria Cross in Wales, the country’s highest possible accolade for bravery”
Tuesday 18th March, 7pm
Professor Catherine Clarke, Director of the Centre for the History of People, Place and Community
Tuesday 22nd April, 7pm
John Gibbs: The Wildlife of the Usk; delights,
challenges and opportunities
Tuesday 20th May, 7pm
Carl Phelpstead: Tolkien in Wales
The Music of the Coronation; The Welsh Connection
The launch event for The Friends occurred on Friday April 12th, 2024.
Brecon resident Professor Grahame Davies, CVO gave us a wonderful insight as to how he came to be the person who oversaw all the music for the Coronation and for the later Honours of Scotland ceremony for King Charles. Grahame helped shape the musical event of a lifetime which featured starring roles for Welsh performers and composers, for the newly-commissioned Cross of Wales and - for the first time ever at a Coronation – the use of the Welsh language.
Erin Thomas, winner of Brecon Choir Festival’s Young Singer Award of 2023 and Louise Wood, a Welsh mezzo-soprano currently studying at Royal Northern College of Music sang two of the pieces for which Grahame wrote the lyrics. Erin sang for the the King and Queen when they visited Brecon in 2023.
friendship
/ˈfrɛn(d)ʃɪp/
a state of enduring affection, esteem, intimacy, and trust.
Everybody needs friends. People who help us through life. People stick with us through thick and thin. St Mary’s Brecon is no different. The church building has stood in the heart of Brecon, serving the people of Brecon, for the better part of 800 years. But it has only done so through the love, dedication, and support of friends—people from all walks of life who have shown their appreciation for what the place has done for them by giving back.
Keeping
St Mary’s
Alive
St Mary’s is on the move. The beloved Tower Café is thriving. The congregation is rapidly growing. The building is again becoming a venue for regular concerts and other events. And it’s a special place for many young families as a place where they can relax while their children play in a warm, friendly, and safe place. It’s also where others can find company and friendship.
But we need your support to make sure this continues.
Become a Friend.
The Friends of St Mary’s, Brecon was set up in 2023 to support the church’s vital work in the community and to help preserve its architectural heritage as an iconic building at the centre of Brecon.
St Mary’s is a beautiful and historic place of worship which has served the people of Brecon for over 800 years. But, to continue this mission, we need your help. You can make a difference by:
becoming a Friend of St Mary’s – at an annual subscription of £25
making a one-off donation;
leaving a legacy in your will;
Your contribution, however small, will help us maintain our facilities, and provide an inclusive space for the community. Because of its location, it is important that the building remains relevant for everyone.
Charity No:1202893 Email: friendstmarys01@gmail.com
Ways to become a Friend.
There are several different ways that you can become a Friend of St Mary’s.
You can pick up forms at St Mary’s and return it with your subscription to the church.
You can also print out the form and return it with your subscription to St Mary’s.
Or you can donate via Paypal by clicking the button below.
Your £25 donation is all that is needed to become a Friend.
Whichever way you choose, you’ll know that your generosity will help St Mary’s continue to thrive for many years to come to develop even more as a vibrant community centre in the heart of Brecon.
